was a former LDS seminary principal; arrested in 2009; convicted and sentenced in 2010 for the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old seminary student

Case report

This case arose in 2007 in Utah.

Michael J. Pratt is a former seminary principal from Orem, Utah, who developed a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. In September 2010, he was ordered to serve five years to life in the Utah State Prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of object rape, forcible sodomy and forcible sex abuse.

Sheriff’s investigators said Michael Pratt, 37, of Orem was principal at Lone Peak High School’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seminary when he was arrested Thursday on multiple charges, including aggravated forcible sexual abuse, forcible sodomy and object rape.

Pratt was principal of the Lone Peak High School LDS seminary. He also served in a Mormon ward bishopric.

Pratt was booked into the Utah County Jail with a $20,000 cash bail.

He faced three counts of aggravated kidnapping, unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old, aggravated forcible sexual abuse, 10 counts of forcible sodomy, object rape, lewdness, three counts of burglary, criminal trespassing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and 10 counts of enticing a minor.

Judge Christine Johnson “sentenced Pratt to three concurrent terms of five years to life in prison and an additional one to fifteen year sentence.” Pratt pleaded guilty. The victim was allegedly ostracized at school and on Facebook and her stepfather commented that Pratt tried to “deflect the blame from himself onto his victim.

He was released from prison in late 2017.

Case facts

Case videos

    • Video title: Seminary teacher accused of sexually assaulting student - YouTube - 2009-07-11
    • Video description: Police have arrested the seminary principal of Lone Peak High School on allegations he had several sexual encounters with a 16-year-old student.

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